A £1.5 million FemTech challenge fund to accelerate the adoption of innovations for women’s healthcare is being launched as part of the government’s renewed Women’s Health Strategy.
The strategy, published today, aims to ensure that women’s experiences are put at the centre of care across the healthcare system.
It includes plans for services to be married with online support to help cut waiting lists for diagnosis and treatment for conditions like endometriosis, which can take nearly a decade to diagnose.
Wes Streeting, health secretary, said: “Whether it’s being passed from one appointment to another for conditions like endometriosis and fibroids, or a lack of proper pain relief during invasive procedures, through to having to navigate symptoms for years before receiving a diagnosis, it’s clear the system is failing women.
“Women’s voices must be central to delivering effective, respectful and empathetic care.”
A new standard of care will also be produced to ensure that women are offered appropriate pain relief for invasive gynaecological procedures, from contraceptive fitting through to hysteroscopies, addressing concerns around inadequate pain management.
Dr Sue Mann, clinical director for women’s health at NHS England, said: “Too many women are still dismissed for serious symptoms that impact on every part of their lives, whether that’s menstrual pain, irregular periods, or hot flushes and brain fog that affect many women experiencing the menopause.
“The renewed women’s health strategy will build significantly on the work the NHS has been doing to ensure women are heard and get the specialist care they need – with a focus on bringing down waiting times, delivering more care in communities, and giving women more choice over their care.”
The strategy also includes plans to redesign clinical pathways for heavy periods, urogynaecology and menopause to speed up diagnosis and treatment, and to fund specialist centres to help women understand and manage their conditions better.
Dr Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: “With over 565,000 women still waiting for gynaecological care, there is a clear opportunity to embed women’s health hubs within the neighbourhood health model.
“For the strategy to achieve its full potential, it is vital that it is backed by sustained investment, clear delivery plans, and transparent progress reporting.”
Tackling gender disparities
The government is funding research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) into areas of unmet need for women’s health – including to improve care for young women living with intense period pain, and technology to treat threatened miscarriage.
The NIHR is also embedding new sex and gender policies into health research, so that study findings are more representative.
Professor Lucy Chappell, chief scientific adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care and chief executive of the NIHR, said: “By tackling long-standing disparities, addressing gaps in the evidence base through gender balanced research guidelines, and making it easier for women to take part in clinical trials, we are ensuring that the research that we fund benefits all women in society.”
Commenting on the plans, Emma Cox, chief executive Endometriosis UK, said: “Today’s renewed Women’s Health Strategy comes at a time when it is desperately needed.
“Diagnosis times for endometriosis are going up not down and it’s now taking an average of nine years four months – rising to 11 years for diverse ethnic communities – which is totally unacceptable.
“Leadership and decisive actions will be vital to drive these times down.”
Earlier this year, NHSE announced that menopause and menstrual problems will be among the priorities for NHS Online, which is planned to launch in 2027.
